"Hokage-sama, the Uchiha clan leader has arrived."
In the Hokage's office, an Anbu knelt on one knee and reported.
"Let him in."
Senju Tobirama stood by the window, his back to the door. His fingers tapped lightly against the window frame, slow and steady, as if lost in thought.
Uchiha Tanaka pushed the door open and entered, his expression calm.
"Hokkage-sama." He gave a slight nod, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.
Tobirama did not turn around. He only said faintly,
"Clan leader Tanaka, calling you here during mealtime must have been inconvenient. Thank you for coming."
"When the Hokage summons me, of course I dare not delay." Uchiha Tanaka's gaze narrowed slightly, his voice steady. "I wonder what urgent matter requires my presence?"
For a moment, the air froze.
Finally, Tobirama turned, his sharp red eyes locking directly onto the Uchiha clan leader as he cut straight to the point—
"I hear your Uchiha clan… has been discussing a coup?"
Uchiha Tanaka's heart skipped a beat, but his outward composure did not falter.
He had already guessed the purpose behind the Hokage's summons. Now, his only option was to feign ignorance.
"Hokkage-sama, why do you say this?"
Tobirama sneered, picked up a scroll from the desk, and tossed it over casually.
"See for yourself."
Uchiha Tanaka caught the scroll, unrolled it, and his pupils contracted sharply—
Recorded on it was the complete agenda of today's Uchiha clan assembly, including the remarks of several radical members.
His expression turned instantly grim. He hadn't expected Tobirama to even know of such matters.Clearly, there was more than one traitor within the clan. It seemed they had already been infiltrated deeply.
He rolled the scroll back up and regained his previous calm.
"Hokage-sama, it is true that some spoke recklessly at the assembly, but that was only the ranting of a few hotheads. It does not represent the collective will of the Uchiha."
"Oh?" Tobirama narrowed his eyes slightly. "So what you're saying is… as clan leader, you cannot control your own people?"
Uchiha Tanaka's gaze hardened.
"Hokage-sama, matters within the Uchiha clan are mine to handle."
"Handle?" Tobirama sneered. "By the time you've 'handled' them, will Konoha already be awash in blood?"
Their eyes clashed, the air tense and heavy.
After a moment, Uchiha Tanaka finally spoke slowly.
"Hokage-sama, the Uchiha clan's loyalty to Konoha is beyond doubt. Those radicals—I will personally deal with them."
Tobirama stared at him for a long time before replying coldly,
"See that you do."
He turned back to the window, his voice low and dangerous.
"Remember this, Clan Leader Tanaka… my tolerance has its limits."
Uchiha Tanaka's fist clenched tight, a flash of fleeting humiliation passing through his eyes. A moment later, he silently loosened his grip.
After a brief pause, he lowered his head slightly.
"…I understand."
With that, he turned and left the Hokage's office without hesitation.
"Uchiha… truly a troublesome clan."
If they were not watched, he feared they might endanger the village.But if they were watched, resentment would fester.
Still, Tanaka had grown a great deal over the years. No longer reckless like when he first took charge, he had become a calculating and capable clan leader.
Whether that change was good or bad for the village, Tobirama could not say.
He only hoped Tanaka could properly rein in the hawks within his clan.
Unless there was no other choice, Tobirama had no desire to shed the blood of his own villagers.
Even if the Uchiha were a potential threat, he had never intended to slaughter them. Surveillance was only meant to prevent them from acting rashly.
Like today's assembly—if he didn't give them a warning, who knew what actions they might take in the future?
From what Tobirama knew of the Uchiha, rebellion was not impossible. If it came to that, it would end in a river of blood between clan and village.
Such an outcome was something Tobirama absolutely wished to avoid. Summoning Tanaka here today was simply to remind him of what could and could not be done.
Being Hokage meant carrying countless burdens. He was left exhausted day after day, with no time even for researching forbidden jutsu.
Perhaps it was time to start seriously considering retirement.
...
At the entrance of the Hokage building.
"Yo, isn't this the Uchiha clan leader?" Renya strolled up, carrying a food box, and mocked, "Looks like the Hokage discovered your clan's little coup plot, huh?"
Back then, Uchiha Tanaka had once tried to kill him. Renya had never forgotten.
If not for Tobirama's intervention, Tanaka would already be dead at his hands.
He had always thought Tanaka would strike against him from the shadows, but unexpectedly, Tanaka never did.
Which left Renya with no excuse to strike first himself.
And now, bumping into Renya right as he walked out—only to be taunted to his face.
In the past, he would have schemed to eliminate the boy immediately.
But things were different now. Renya was no longer the child who could be toyed with at will!
Tanaka was no match for him. Unless he was courting death, he wouldn't provoke him.
Besides, Tanaka was no longer the reckless clan leader of old. He knew that crossing Renya would end badly.
If a conflict broke out, Tobirama would undoubtedly take Renya's side without hesitation.
"Hmph, Senju Chef."
Tanaka snorted coldly and strode past him without stopping.
He had no desire to entangle himself with the boy. If Renya found an excuse to beat him up, who would he even complain to?
He truly wasn't his opponent anymore. Better to avoid trouble than to seek it.
In the blink of an eye, Tanaka's figure vanished around the corner.
Renya: "???"
He stood dumbfounded by that single phrase—"Senju Chef."
Not until Tanaka had disappeared from sight did Renya finally react.
"Dammit, was that guy mocking me?!"
He wanted to snap back, but after glancing at the food box in his hands, the retort stuck in his throat and he swallowed it down.
—Lies don't wound, but truth cuts like a blade.
So his identity as "Senju Chef"… had already become common knowledge?
...
Inside the Hokage's office.
"Kid, what's wrong with you?"
Tobirama noticed Renya's off expression and asked curiously.
Renya set the food box on the desk. Remembering Tanaka's parting words, he couldn't help but ask:
"Hey, old man, do you think I look like a chef?"
A giant question mark appeared over Tobirama's head. He had no idea what the kid was on about.
Wasn't this question completely obvious?
But sensing Renya's mood, he chose silence instead.
He had a feeling that if he answered wrong, he might lose his chef—and his three daily meals.
After a long pause, Tobirama tentatively asked:
"What do you think?"
Renya: "…"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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